Device for transferring or threading beginnings of bands

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to a device for transferring or threading beginnings of a band, especially extremely thin bands, from a band machining or band processing unit to a or into a further processing unit or winding reel, consisting of a transfer table ( 1 ), whose width corresponds at least to the width of a band to be conveyed, and whose table surface has a lengthwise slot ( 8 ) in the conveying direction of the band, which is narrower than the minimum width of a band to be conveyed, by means of which the upper run of a conveyor belt ( 7 ) running in the conveying direction of the band can be pivoted over the surface of the transfer table and to which the band to be conveyed can be connected by external force for a while.

The present invention pertains to a device for transferring or threadingbeginnings of a band, especially extremely thin bands, from a bandmachining or band processing unit to a or into a further processing unitor winding reel.

Devices of this type have become known in a wide variety of embodiments.

Thus, such a device is disclosed in DE 40 18 950 A1, wherein a bandthreading carriage is provided, which is arranged downstream of a reel.The band threading carriage has a pivotable clamping device, which isprovided on the front end with a bit. With this [band threadingcarriage], the coil of a band located on the reel can be opened, andthen the beginning of the band is immediately hydraulically ormagnetically detected and transferred by the carriage, which moveslengthwise, to a subsequent band machining or band processing unit,i.e., e.g., it is threaded there.

A lengthwise moving carriage has likewise become known from DE-AS 26 04909, wherein this [carriage] detects and transfers the beginning of theband unwinding from the coil also by means of clamping. Correspondingmeans are also used for transferring the band coming out of a roll standto a winding reel or threading into same.

These devices are suitable for normal band thicknesses. However,so-called extremely thin bands cannot be handled with these. These bandsare defined as bands with a thickness less than 0.2 mm. Up to now, amanual handling is necessary for transferring or threading these bands,since advancing the thin band over a longer distance, as may occur,e.g., between two roll stands or between the outlet from a roll standand the next reel, is not possible. In practice, the band had to bepushed or to be carefully pulled, whereby it was not possible to preventthe band from being displaced uncontrolled out of the center of the lineof movement. Of course, the fact that the space between two unit partsis often so narrow that access is only possible under certain conditionsalso plays a role.

Such a displacement may, however, lead to the band winding onto the reelat an angle during the winding up. This in turn leads to either foldsoccurring on the reels, which inevitably damage the reel, or elsetelescoping of the band occurs.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is the creation of adevice, with which especially the handling of extremely thin bandsduring transferring or threading is possible, and preferablyautomatically.

This object is accomplished according to the present invention with adevice for transferring or for threading beginnings of a band,especially of extremely thin bands, from a band machining or bandprocessing unit to a or into a further processing unit or winding reel,consisting of a transfer table, whose width corresponds at least to thewidth of a band to be conveyed, and whose table surface has a lengthwiseslot in the conveying direction of the band that is narrower than theminimal width of a band to be conveyed, through which the upper run of aconveyor belt rotating in the conveying direction of the band ispivotable above the surface of the transfer table and can be connectedby external force to the band to be conveyed for a while.

Unlike the state of the art described in the introduction, the band isthus not gripped, but rather it is placed by external force on anendlessly running conveyor belt for a while. Such a placement can becarried out with considerably more care than the gripping used up tonow.

Moreover, it is essential that the width of the conveyor belt is smallerthan the minimum width of the band to be conveyed, so that, inprinciple, only a very narrow range of the band is detected forconveying.

A distinction must now be made that the bands to be handled may havedifferent properties, and they may be magnetic or non-magnetic.

If it is a magnetic band material, then magnets, which pull thebeginning of the band against the conveyor belt, as well as the top sideof the upper run of the conveyor belt, are arranged under the upper runof the endlessly running conveyor belt. If permanent magnets are usedfor this, their action occurs only as long as the conveyor belt islocated in the pivoted-out state, i.e., above the table surface. Ifelectromagnets are used, then the action only occurs, if theelectromagnets are activated. It is important that the action only occurfor a while. After transferring and/or threading into a next unit, theseparation of the conveyor belt from the band takes place, so that theband runs freely between the previous outlet and the next inlet.

If the band is made of non-magnetic material, then suction nozzles arearranged under the upper run of the conveyor belt, and the conveyor beltitself is provided with openings or holes. In this case, the extremelythin band is placed by external force onto the top side of the upper runof the conveyor belt by partial vacuum for a while. Thus, a rapidconversion or exchange between these types of conveying can take place,electromagnets and suction nozzles may also be installed together underthe upper run of the conveyor belt.

Advantageously, the entire device is arranged pivotably, i.e., for usethe conveyor belt is moved into the plane of conveying, and pivoted outof same when not needed, so that it does not interfere with the nextcourse of movement.

The present invention shall be explained below in an exemplaryembodiment, wherein only the basic principle is schematically shown inthe drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the transfer table shown in a simplifiedmanner, and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the pivotable conveyor belt.

In the figures, the transfer table, which has a slot 8, is designated by1. The maximum band width X and the minimum band width Y are indicatedin FIG. 1, so that it is evident that the slot is narrower than theminimum band width of a band to be conveyed.

A roll stand (or a last stand of a mill train) is indicated by 3. Thedash-dot line 4 indicates the center of the roll and also the conveyingplane of the exiting band. The device according to the present inventionfor transferring or threading a extremely thin band has an endlesslyrunning conveyor belt designated by 7.

This conveyor belt is arranged pivotably, which has been indicated bythe reference number 2. The two positional views show that in this waythe conveyor belt can be moved in or out of the conveying plane. i.e.,it is raised above the surface or table surface of the transfer table 1or lowered. Under the upper run of the conveyor belt 7 are locatedeither magnets or suction nozzles 6, by means of which the band exitingfrom the stand—or stated more exactly the beginning of this band—can beplaced by external force on the top side of the upper run of theconveyor belt 7 for a while, i.e., as long as the upper run of theconveyor belt is in its position above the table surface, so that, bymoving the conveyor belt, the band to be conveyed, especially thebeginning of the band, is also moved.

1. Device for transferring or threading beginnings of a band, especiallyof extremely thin bands, from a band machining or band processing unitto a or into a further processing unit or winding reel, consisting of atransfer table (1), whose width corresponds at least to the width of theband to be conveyed, and whose table surface has a lengthwise slot (8)in the conveying direction of the band, which is narrower than theminimum width of a band to be conveyed, by means of which the upper runof a conveyor belt (7) running in the conveying direction of the bandcan be pivoted over the surface of the transfer table and to which theband to be conveyed can be connected by external force for a while. 2.Device in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that magnets, whichpull the band to be conveyed against the top side of the upper run, arearranged under the top run of the said conveyor belt (7).
 3. Device inaccordance with claim 2, characterized in that the magnets areelectromagnets.
 4. Device in accordance with claim 1, characterized inthat the said conveyor belt (7) is provided with holes, and that suctionnozzles, which pull the band to be conveyed against the top side of theupper run, are arranged under the upper run.